There is little scholarship on physical activity among children within outdoor spaces and work is needed to advance the design of these spaces from “best practices” towards evidence-based design. This project examined how playground feature density relates to children's physical activity.
Design.
We used the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity to observe children's physical activity.
Setting.
We observed children during school recess on 24 school grounds in the Denver metropolitan area of Colorado, in spring of 2010 and 2011.
Subjects.
A total of 31,069 observations were made from an estimated 9900 children aged 5 to 12. These were aggregated and analyzed in 397 playground zones.
Measures.
We examined utilization, the number of children present in a particular activity zone during an observation, and the percentage of children engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity as they relate to the density of constructed features on school playgrounds.
Analysis.
Ordinary least-squares linear regression model assessed the relationship between playground feature density and the utilization and moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Results.
Significant positive associations were observed between utilization and feature density among all children (β = .20; p < .001) and a statistically significant but small association was observed between moderate to vigorous physical activity and feature density for girls (β = .12; p = .013), but not for boys.
Conclusion.
This analysis contributes to evidence that design features of play spaces may influence children's behavior within school grounds.
OliverMSchofieldG. Policy responses and the physical environment. In: PearceJWittenK, eds. Geographies of Obesity: Environmental Understandings of the Obesity Epidemic. Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom: Ashgate; 2010:175–204.
5.
SabistonCMCastonguayALowNCP. Vigorous physical activity and low-grade systemic inflammation in adolescent boys and girls. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2010;5:509–515.
6.
DavisCLTomporowskiPDMcDowellJE. Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: a randomized, controlled trial. Health Psychol. 2011;30:91–98.
7.
US Dept of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2008.
8.
TroianoRPBerriganDDoddKW. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:181–188.
9.
PearceJWittenKBartieP. Neighbourhoods and health: a GIS approach to measuring community resource accessibility. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006;60:389–395.
10.
HoekJMcLeanR. Changing food environment and obesity: an overview. In: PearceJWittenK, eds. Geographies of Obesity: Environmental Understandings of the Obesity Epidemic. Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom: Ashgate; 2010:57–78.
11.
PearceJWittenK. Geographies of Obesity: Environmental Understandings of the Obesity Epidemic. Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom: Ashgate; 2010.
12.
HeathGWParraDCSarmientoOL. Evidence-based intervention in physical activity: lessons from around the world. Lancet. 2012;380:272–281.
13.
FrankLDKavageS. Urban planning and public health: a story of separation and reconnection. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2008;14:214–220.
14.
SmitWHancockTKumaresenJ. Toward a research and action agenda on urban planning/design and health equity in cities in low and middle-income countries. J Urban Health. 2011;88:875–885.
15.
JacksonLE. The relationship of urban design to human health and condition. Landscape Urban Plann. 2003;64:191–200.
16.
NicaiseVKahanDMSallisJF. Preschool children's physical activity intensity as a function of playground location. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2011;82:A61.
17.
BrandtRMChongGHMartinWM. Design Informed: Driving Innovation with Evidence-Based Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2010.
18.
ScottMMCohenDAEvensonKR. Weekend schoolyard accessibility, physical activity, and obesity: the Trial of Activity in Adolescent Girls (TAAG) study. Prev Med. 2007;44:398–403.
19.
WechslerHDevereauxRSDavisMCollinsJ. Using the school environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating. Prev Med. 2000;31:S121–S137.
20.
ZaskAvan BeurdenEBarnettL. Active school playgrounds—myth or reality? Results of the “move it groove it” project. Prev Med. 2001;33:402–408.
21.
RidgersNDSaint-MauricePFWelkGJ. Differences in physical activity during school recess. J Sch Health. 2011;81:545–551.
22.
FarleyTAMeriwetherRABakerET. Where do the children play? The influence of playground equipment on physical activity of children in free play. J Phys Act Health. 2008;5:319–331.
23.
PotwarkaLRKaczynskiATFlackAL. Places to play: association of park space and facilities with healthy weight status among children. J Community Health. 2008; 33:344–350.
24.
ColabianchiNMaslowALSwayampakalaK. Features and amenities of school playgrounds: a direct observation study of utilization and physical activity levels outside of school time. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:1–11.
25.
AnthamattenPBrinkLLampeS. An assessment of schoolyard renovation strategies to encourage children's physical activity. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:27.
26.
BrinkLNiggCLampeS. Influence of schoolyard renovations on children's physical activity: the Learning Landscapes program. Am J Public Health. 2010;100: 1672–1678.
27.
NielsenGTaylorRWilliamsSMannJ. Permanent play facilities in school playgrounds as a determinant of children's activity. J Phys Act Health. 2010;7: 490–496.
AnthamattenPBrinkLKingstonB. An assessment of schoolyard features and behavior patterns in children's utilization and physical activity. J Phys Act Health. 2014;11:564–573.
30.
DeeC. Form and Fabric in Landscape Architecture: A Visual Introduction. London, United Kingdom: Spon Press; 2001.
31.
SallisJFConwayTLProchaskaJJ. The association of school environments with youth physical activity. Am J Public Health. 2001;91:618–620.
32.
FerreiraIvan der HorstKWendel-VosW. Environmental correlates of physical activity in youth—a review and update. Obes Rev. 2007;8:129–154.
33.
StanleyRMRidleyKDollmanJ. Correlates of children's time-specific physical activity: A review of the literature. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012;9:1–13.
34.
BiddleSMutrieN. Psychology of Physical Activity: Determinants, Well-Being, and Interventions. London, United Kingdom: Routledge; 2001.
35.
BaileyRWellardIDismoreH. Girls and physical activities: a summary review. Educ Health. 2005;23:3–5.
36.
TrostSGPateRRSallisJF. Age and gender differences in objectively measured physical activity in youth. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;34:350–355.
DymentJEBellACLucasAJ. The relationship between school ground design and intensity of physical activity. Child Geogr. 2009;7:261–276.
40.
BocarroJNKantersMACerinE. School sport policy and school-based physical activity environments and their association with observed physical activity in middle school children. Health Place. 2012;18:31–38.
41.
ColabianchiNKinsellaAECoultonCJMooreSM. Utilization and physical activity levels at renovated and unrenovated school playgrounds. Prev Med. 2009;48: 140–143.
42.
BurtJEBarberGM. Elementary Statistics for Geographers. New York, NY: Guilford Press; 2009.
43.
KaczynskiATPotwarkaLRSaelensBE. Association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks. Am J Public Health. 2008;98:1451–1456.
44.
RungALMowenAJBroylesSTGustatJ. The role of park conditions and features on park visitation and physical activity. J Phys Act Health. 2011;8(suppl 2):S178–S187.
45.
StrattonGMullanE. The effect of multicolor playground markings on children's physical activity level during recess. Prev Med. 2005;41:828–833.
46.
HaugETorsheimTSallisJFSamdalO. The characteristics of the outdoor school environment associated with physical activity. Health Educ Res. 2010;25:248–256.
47.
SallisJFMcKenzieTLElderJP. Sex and ethnic differences in children's physical activity: discrepancies between self-report and objective measures. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 1998;10:277–284.
48.
PowellKERobertsAMRossJG. Low physical fitness among fifth- and seventh-grade students, Georgia, 2006. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36:304–310.
49.
TrostSGRosenkranzRRDzewaltowskiD. Physical activity levels among children attending after-school programs. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:622–629.
50.
UvacsekMTothMRidgersND. Examining physical activity and inactivity in 9–12 years old children. Acta Physiol Hung. 2011;98:313–320.
51.
LamJWKSitCHPCerinE. Physical activity and sedentary behaviors in Hong Kong primary school children: prevalence and gender differences. Prev Med. 2010;51: 96–97.
52.
WallerLAGotwayCA. Applied Spatial Statistics for Public Health Data. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2004.
53.
McKenzieTLMarshallSJSallisJFConwayTL. Leisure-time physical activity in school environments: an observational study using SOPLAY. Prev Med. 2000;30: 70–77.
54.
BlatchfordPBainesEPellegriniA. The social context of school playground games: sex and ethnic differences, and changes over time after entry to junior school. Br J Dev Psychol. 2003;21:481–505.
55.
SchurCLBerkMLSilverLE. Connecting the ivory tower to Main Street: setting research priorities for real-world impact. Health Aff. 2009;28:W886–W899.
56.
LeeMRubinV. The Impact of the Built Environment on Community Health: The State of Current Practice and Next Steps for a Growing Movement. Los Angeles, Calif: PolicyLink for the California Endowment; 2007.
57.
PronkNPGoetzelRZ. The practical use of evidence practice and research connected. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38:S229–S231.
